Construction World December 2016

ST JOHANN

All of this was cleverly designed to feel spacious, light and airy, although only 67 m² in size. The ski chalet sits on steel posts to lift it above the flow of a natural stream through the middle of the site. Clear storey windows right round the main bedroom and living area affords views of the mostly clear blue skies and mountain tops, while letting in copious amounts of natural light. Insulated walls, floors and roof together with double glazing and hydronic underfloor heating makes for a comfortable and cosy interior. Modul8 modular units (a factory manufactured Modular building system) serves as a ski chalet at adventure seekers at Afriski Adventure & Ski Resort, Lesotho. Three Modul8 premanufactured modular units with channel/square/rectangular profiles and cellular beams make up St Johann. Steel was used to enable the designing and manufacturing of a pre-manufactured, up market and modular system in Gauteng, which could then be transported to a high altitude (3 300 m above sea level) location, where it is not easy to assemble or build projects. The use of tubular steel was a non-brainer for all its good qualities: It is strong compared to its weight, flexible and durable. The Modul8 unit was built in Gauteng in a controlled environment and then transported to Lesotho and placed on a prepared soil platform as it is much easier and cheaper to conduct the construction in a controlled environment to ensure better quality control. The biggest challenge with Afriski is the inclement weather conditions, the altitude and the location of the site. Because Afriski Because of the difficulty to build at altitude, harsh weather conditions and being 200 km from the nearest building supply shop, it was decided by Strey Architects to develop a pre-manufactured and modular building system, called Modul8. The ski chalet was designed by Strey Architects to be built in two phases. Phase I consists of three modules containing and entrance/wind break/ future stair shaft, two en-suite bedrooms and a living area with kitchen, dining area and lounge.

is located in a bowl, the days are shorter as the sun rises later over the east ridge and sets earlier over the west ridge. A steel ring beam at the top and bottom, together with square steel posts act as a rigid frame which can be picked up from the top to load on a truck, transport to site and dropped off on a pre- prepared foundation. The roof structure was also pre-manufactured in a factory in Gauteng, complete with double glazing and lifting brackets, in order to have minimal work to be done in the harsh weather conditions on site. The roof structure was placed on the Modul8 units by the same crane mounted on the truck horse, after which the 90 mm thick PU foam SIPs were placed on the frames on site as all-in-one roof covering, ceiling and insulation. Because the Modul8 units are manufactured off site, there is no damage to the site or the surroundings during the construction process, as no construction takes place on site accept for the foundations. As the building is pre-manufactured off site and then brought to site, the buildings can also be taken away again and the site can be totally rehabilitated. As the Modul8 units are modular, materials were optimised to their modular size resulting in very little to no cutting, resulting in no waste of materials, labour, equipment, tools or time. All Modul8 units are properly insulated, made in a controlled environment with strict quality control procedures and of high quality materials and finishes, resulting in less heating and cooling costs, as well as less maintenance. Low maintenance to no maintenance materials were chosen to reduce maintenance costs in the long run, as well as reducing the materials, cleaning and maintaining agents which will go with maintaining a building. The ski chalet is lifted off the ground by placing it on the round tubular steel columns, for a few reasons. Firstly there are more than 400 natural water springs on the resort, of which two flow from underneath the position of the ski chalet. By lifting the chalet above the ground, the flow of the water is not restricted to flow downhill, and cause damage to the structure.

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Project information • Company entering: Strey Architects • Client: Johannes Grobbelaar • End date: 2014

• Main contractor: Modul8 • Architect: Strey Architects • Consulting engineer: Hull Consulting Engineers • Subcontractor: Alugro Aluminium & Glass • Project value: R850 000

2 16 BEST PR O JECTS

DECEMBER • 2016